Biography

He is currently a Professor of Political Science at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).

· He also serves as an Affiliate Research Professor at the Global Institute for Strategic Research (GISR).

· Between 2000 and 2022, Dr. Arafat worked as a Political Adviser in Qatar and as a Professor of Political Science in the Department of International Affairs at Qatar University.

· Bringing nearly three decades of academic and professional experience, Dr. Arafat earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1996. Since then, he has taught and conducted research at universities in the United States, South Korea, Egypt, and Qatar.

· His research centers on Middle Eastern affairs, examined through the lenses of international relations and comparative politics.

· Dr. Arafat has authored numerous works in English and Arabic on global and regional developments, including: “Multiculturalism in Politically Restricted Environments: The Case of the Arab Region,” “Cult of Personality: Comparative Central Asian Faces,” “What Can South Asia Learn from the Middle East Peace Process?,” “The Axis of Evil in the 21st Century, State Fragility, and International Fluidity,” “The Fall of Kabul and Its Cross-Regional Implications,” “Political Reform in Intransigent Regions: The Case of Central Asia,” “The Afghan Question” (edited volume), “The International Relations of Landlocked Countries,” and “The Era of Decentralized Conflicts.”

· In addition, he has contributed numerous op-eds to leading Arab newspapers, offering insights on political dynamics and global affairs